Thanks to the internet, information continues to be more and more readily accessible on an international scale. Celebrities, politicians, businesses and even good ole Trump, can't avoid the apparent transparency that the internet creates. The surge of information has immensely affected how everyday people view just about everything, from what makeup to purchase to which countries to travel to.

In this evolution of change, social consciousness is beginning to take centre stage. Many have the desire to put their consciousness into action, but simply unaware of where to start. Here are 5 simply ways to be a more socially-conscious person.

1. CHOOSE YOUR CIRCLE WISELY

"Your energy can become stagnant by hanging around people who don't want to grow" - lalah delia // start becoming more aware of whom you allow into your space - if someone doesn't align with you energetically, then they aren't meant to be in your space. This isn't to imply that one person is better than the next, but rather that we are all on different frequencies and we have to be aware of this when choosing who we spend time with.

2. MEDITATE

I know, I know, you've probably had this recommendation a million times, but the truth is that even simply sitting for 15 minutes in silence, gives time for your brain to rejuvenate. It creates the clarity needed for awareness and movement in the right direction.

3. GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY

Don't simply sit behind a computer ranting about the unfair things happening in the world - get up + lend a hand. Support not-for-profit events, maybe a fellow female small business owner, support your local sporting clubs that help keep kids active, etc, etc. Every single action makes a difference.

4. TAKE TIME FOR SELF-CARE

I'm always thinking "DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOURSELF" (I know I just said get involved in the community, but it's all about balance). There is so much going on in the world, that we can become overwhelmed and drained by it all. Remember to take at least one day out the week, to relax, light some incense and love yourself. Use one day to recharge and make sure the you're in a place of happiness.

5. PRACTICE CONSCIOUS CONSUMERISM

Last, but definitely not least, start becoming more conscious of the products you buy and consume. Start supporting businesses that focus on social responsibility, sustainability, environmentally-friendliness, clean beauty etc, like Ayune Hair. Your decisions not only impact you, but many others on a global scale.

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https://ayunehair.com/blogs/blog/the-art-of-compassion2018-10-30T22:00:00+08:002018-10-31T10:44:10+08:00the art of compassion ____Valerie Ogoke
Lately, I find myself spending more time asking "How may I be of service to others" + "How can I do my dharma"

We all have our own interpretation and perspective on life and sometimes we get so caught up in our own story, that we tend to unknowingly move into a space of selfishness. It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, focusing on "why is this person giving me a hard time?" or "when will I be able to live out my passion". Everything starts with an "I" and there's no abundance of happiness in that story.

Recently, I watched a presentation by Thupten Jimpa called "A Fearless Heart: Why Compassion is the Key to Greater Wellbeing" and I felt so moved by his message.

Essentially he implies that compassion is a natural trait that we're born with. We are all born with an innate desire to be compassionate to all things, humans, nature, animals, etc. He states that in Buddhism, compassion is considered to be one of the most important spiritual values and is the fundamental value which underpins all other ethical values and virtues (it is ultimately our foundation and all things are connected to it).

So at what point did compassion take a back seat + our ego take a front seat in our lives? I would say that when we truly connect to our roots, we find that the cause is right in front of us "the loss of connection with our true selves, our root".

I'm on a journey to reconnecting with that + the focal point of this is doing my dharma. When we connect with our true selves, compassion runs through our soul.

My desire is to celebrate kindness.

Celebrate a life where we think about more than ourselves and we realize that we will never lose ourselves in this process but rather find more of ourselves in others.

So ask yourself: How can I be of service to others?

Because on the other side of that is an abundance of happiness and true fulfilment.

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https://ayunehair.com/blogs/blog/for-harriet-interview-is-there-an-ethical-way-to-wear-human-hair-extensions2018-10-21T22:16:00+08:002018-10-21T22:19:30+08:00Is there an ethical way to wear human hair extensions?Valerie Ogoke
Our recent interview with For Harriet covers the common question: can weaves be worn ethically?

We're always thankful for the opportunities to share the journey of Ayune Hair + encourage a different perspective around wearing human hair extensions.

Can weaves be worn in an ethical way? Our answer is YES

Check out our interview with For Harriet

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https://ayunehair.com/blogs/blog/where-do-your-hair-extensions-come-from2018-06-14T16:39:00+08:002019-05-02T19:34:15+08:00Where Do Your Hair Extensions Come From?Valerie OgokeThe truth is most of us have never questioned where our hair extensions come from or how they are sourced. We usually just assume that it's done the correct way and after all, "it's just hair" or so we think.

The truth is most of us have never questioned where our hair extensions come from or how they are sourced. We usually just assume that it's done the correct way and after all, "it's just hair" or so we think.

It took moving abroad to Australia in 2012 and a life-changing spiritual journey in Indonesia to spark my desire to truly understand how the hair extension process really works. When people say that travel can change your entire perceptive on life itself, they weren't lying. Travelling taught me that we're truly ALL INTERCONNECTED and my choice alone can impact more than just myself.

Refinery 29 recently showcased an episode on the show, Shady, that took them into the underground world of human hair trafficking. Stating "Wigs and extensions are often made of real human hair, but have you ever questions how that hair is sourced?"

I've said this several times, I'm EXCITED ABOUT THE AWARENESS THAT IS OCCURRING AROUND THE WORLD! We are ALL desiring to know how things work and whether people are being mistreated. I asked this same question in March 2016, but I decided to dig even deeper.

I asked "Do we really need to compromise our morals and another person's well-being all in the name of beauty?"

My answer in 2017 and to this day is no. What's wrong with choosing an option that is kinder and more empowering? This is where AYUNE HAIR was born. Women in rural areas meticulously collect their fallen hair strands (which is natural process - we all lose at least 50-100 hair stands a day, sometimes even up to 150) from their brush and sell them, which creates three things:

1. An additional source of income2. A sense of empowerment in knowing that they will never feel pressured to cut their long hair3. A sustainable and consistent supply of hair

Hair grows about a 1/2 inch per month, which means that it would literally take 2 years for most women to grow only 12 inches of hair. With the demand for hair extensions consistently rising around the world, it isn't sustainable to continue cutting women's hair. The consequence of this shortage is that women's lives are put in danger (as you can see from the clip below, women are literally being robbed by knife point for their hair) and deceptive marketing spikes (i.e. mixing human hair with synthetic hair which takes 500 years to decompose).

In most cultures, hair gives women a sense of pride and femininity, imagine for second how a woman would feel when this is stolen from her or she is pressured into giving that away.

Another question one might ask themselves, is "Do I feel comfortable wearing a woman's hair that was sacrificed for spiritual reasons?" To each, it's own because our brand isn't about placing judgement on anyone but simply to encourage women to expand their awareness.

This isn't about being perfect, we all know perfection is unattainable (because we are all authentically unique) but simply about becoming more mindful.

We believe sustainable and ethical hair extensions are the future and we will continue to encourage and support a more conscious society.

Take some time to check out this Refinery 29 episode below and think about how you can help change the hair extensions industry.

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https://ayunehair.com/blogs/blog/women-empowerment-in-20182018-06-08T11:39:00+08:002018-06-08T11:46:01+08:00celebrating holistic living______Valerie Ogoke
The tea is that we celebrate a holistic lifestyle. Yes, we sell ethically-sourced + sustainable hair extensions, but we also encourage women to elevate every part of their life - spiritually, mentally, energetically and physically.

I'm sure you're wondering at this point - why would a hair extension business talk about social consciousness, women empowerment, meditating, etc?

The tea is that we celebrate a holistic lifestyle. Yes, we sell ethically-sourced + sustainable hair extensions, but we also encourage women to elevate every part of their life - spiritually, mentally, energetically and physically.

How can one truly thrive without addressing each part of their being? It's like giving a plant light but not watering the roots.

It's 2018 and gone are the days that we can pretend that we can ignore different aspects of our life and continue to evolve. Growth comes in healing, self-care, reflection, silence, bonding + so much more.

Our goal is connect with the modern woman that understands this + provide a space that connects with her truth.

Close your eyes and imagine a life where we no longer feel compelled to appease society's expectations but rather embraced our truth.

Life is to beautiful + filled with light.

It's time to celebrate holistic living __

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https://ayunehair.com/blogs/blog/welcome-grab-your-tea-stay-for-a-while2018-01-03T10:38:00+08:002018-06-14T17:22:21+08:00Welcome! Grab your tea + stay for a while!Valerie Ogoke
As Maya Angelou once said "We delight in the beauty of a butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty" We focus on holistic beauty, culture and story-telling without neglecting physical beauty because beauty has more than one singular meaning and each aspect should be celebrated. It's time that we start digging deeper and celebrating each fiber of beauty within us and within every woman in our lives.

If you just randomly stumbled upon our blog, welcome + if you've been loyally following us on Instagram/Facebook, thank you for continuing to journey with us!

So to get the obvious question out of the way, the correct pronunciation of our brand is AYU-NE (ah - you - nay) // sounds sort of African right? Well it's actually a Javanese (Indonesia) word which means "very beautiful".

Beauty is at the forefront of many women's minds whether its wanting to appear slimmer for the summer months or finding the right make-up to help enhance their unique features. We've decided to flip this perspective around and celebrate the depths of beauty, while still enjoying the physical aspect of it.

Maya Angelou once said

"we delight in the beauty of a butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty"

We focus on holistic beauty, culture and story-telling without neglecting physical beauty because beauty has more than one singular meaning and each aspect should be celebrated. It's time that we start digging deeper and celebrating each fiber of beauty within us and within every woman in our lives.

Ayune Hair was created from a desire to embody:

Enlightenment EmpowermentIntegrityLiberationInclusiveness

Our unconventional, yet liberating approach to the beauty industry, encourages women to celebrate their holistic beauty without comprising their reverence for others.